Locking hinge



Jan. 11 1927.

'A. T. LINDEKEN LOCKING-HINGE Filed Jan. 2, 1925 INVENTOR. fw/ [flak/Q?) ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

* warren srATEs AUGUST T. LINDEKEN, ornos ansnnnsfonmnonmn, Asslenoa T0 AMnsrcAn' MANUFACTURING COMPANY, O F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA,

LOCKING HINGE.

Application filed January 2, 1925.- Serial No. 58.

This invention relates to hinges adapted for boards, shelves, tables, and the like which are arranged to be concealed in wall cabinets, and is adapted more especially to a board arranged to be supported at selected heights.

A common type of disappearing ironing board is mounted in a cabinet one end being arranged to be slidably secured in vertical ways, the other end being supported by a swingable panel forming a brace and a part of the cover for the cabinet. This panel is hinged at one end about a horizontal axis to the board and at the other end to the cabinet. One means of varying the height of the board has been that of employing a triple leaf hinge, the intermediate leaf being arranged to be disposed selectively outwardly and inwardly of the pivot pin on the leaf attached to the board. Such a construction is clearly disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,480,817, for disappearing ironing boards, granted to H. P. Dixon January 15, 1924.

In such types of boards having hinges with freely swinging leaves, the board may be accidentally disturbed so as to cause the end supported by the panel to drop. The present invention has for its primary object the provision of means to lock the board at the selected height. A more specific object of this invention is to provide a hinge having locking means of the character described incorporated in the hinge itself.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fragment of a cabinet and board of the variable height type; Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing a cabinet and board, the latter being shown in full lines in its upper position and in dotted lines in its lower position; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a hinge; and Fig. 1 is a side view of the hinge.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 5 is a cabinet preferably of such dimensions that it will readily fit in the wall between the studdings of ordinary and usual building structures. The cabinet is open at the front and provided with an upper hinged door, a fragment of which is indicated by 6 in Fig. 2. A lower hinged panel 7 serves as a brace or strut for the ironing board and also to complete the closure of the cabinet. The side members 8 of the cabinet are each provided with a slot 9 forming a way. fora guide pin. At the upper ends of the slot are offset notches 10 and 11.

Secured by hinges 12 to the lower cross member 13 of the cabinet frame is the panel 7. An ironing board 14 secured to the upper end of the panel by means of triple leaf hinges indicated generally by 15 and shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4. At the rear, the ironing board has guide pins 16 which are disposed to ride in slots 9.

Each triple leaf hinge comprises a panel leaf 17 provided with screw holes whereby it may be secured to the panel, a similar board leaf 18 and an intermediate leaf 19. Suppose it is desired to unfold the board into the higher position. The door is swung into open position and the top of the ironing board 14 is grasped and pulled outwardly. The guide pins 16 are moved in the slots 9 until they reach the upper ends thereof and are then directed outwardly into the notches 11 by pulling the board forwardly. This positions the rear end of the ironing board at its higher position. To dispose the panel 7 in a corresponding position, it is moved inwardly into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, so that the intermediate leaves of the hinges are disposed beneath the leaves 18. In this position if the end of the board 14 is lifted, panel 17 will drop forwardly, the hinge swinging into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, if it were not for some locking device. The locking mechanism to prevent this comprises a spring finger 2O upset from the outer end of leaf 18 forming a catch and so disposed as to hook over the hinge pin knuckles indicated by 21 which form keepers. To release the panel and permit it to drop into its lower position, the panel must be pulled to release the intermediate hinge from the ironing board hinge. If it is desired to dispose the board in its lower position, the guide pins 16 are directed into the notches 10, and the hinges 15 are unlocked and unfolded so that the intermediate leaves 19 rest against the ironing board in the position shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 2.. In folding the board for concealment, the end having the pins 16 is directed downwardly in the slots 9, the upper end of the board being swung into the cabinet, and a spring finger 22 on the hinge locking about the hinge pin bearing 23.

It is obvious that the invention is not lim- 5 ited to embodiment in ironing boards. Ta-

bles, shelves, seats and the like embodying the invention may be constructed.

What I claim is: 1. A triple leaf hinge having the end 1 leaves formed with spring catches, and keepers therefor at the joints whereby either of the leaves may be locked in folded position.

2. A triple leaf hinge having pin knuckles, the end leaves thereof being bent over to provide resilient fingers to hook over and 15 grasp said knuckles, when folded.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 18th day of December, 1924.

AUGUST T. LINDEKEN. 

